About Us

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About Bharari – what’s in a name…

In our mother tongue, Marathi (spoken by over 90 million people), Bharari means “taking flight“. We felt that Bharari (pronounced like “Ferrari” with bh sound) is an appropriate name for what we plan to do -to fly off from our comfortable nest to explore this wonderful world.

It is not our intention to make this site into an online journal of our day-to-day activities. We think of this site as our labour of love. The aim is to document our personal experiences – based on the places that we see, the things that we experience, and the people that we meet – from our point of view. One of the primary aims of this site is to keep us motivated to follow through with our World Tour plans.

Have a look at our Media page for a selection of our articles and interviews that were published in global newspapers, magazines and other websites.

For advertising queries, questions or comments, feel free to contact us here.

About Neeraj & Bhakti

Neeraj was born in a small town in India 200km northeast of Mumbai. He spent his most impressionable years in India – climbing trees in his backyard and biking to ‘far-off’ places (far enough to scare his mother) – before moving to Toronto.

He holds a degree from the University of Toronto and has worked in the Financial Services industry. In September 2008, when Lehman Brothers had just successfully collapsed, Neeraj quit his full-time employment to take his traveling, trekking and mountaineering passion to the next level. He spent several months in India, during which he traveled the length and breadth of Maharashtra state and completed many challenging treks, including a trek to the base of Mt. Kanchendzonga, which was the 3rd highest peak in the world (and still is!).

He returned to Toronto in January 2009 and learned a few first-hand lessons in global macro economics whilst searching for ways to make money (i.e. searching for a job) at the peak of recession. Destiny had other things in mind. He filed his income taxes for 2008 and got a handsome return, which he used to fund an extended tour of Southeast Asia while the world suffered its worst economic slump since the Great Depression. He is proud of the fact that his spending stimulus helped the travel industry to recover from its lows.

From late-2009 to mid-2012, he worked hard as an Independent Risk Management Consultant on various Capital Markets projects. During this time, he met and fell in love with Bhakti and made the biggest “risk management” decision of his life … they got married on December 28th, 2010! They honeymooned in Malaysia and Myanmar and made several smaller trips after that, the best ones being a summer road trip in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and spending Christmas 2011 in Mexico City.

After successfully implementing his last project in mid-2012, he took on some additional risk and booked a one-way ticket to India for himself and his wife. They backpacked extensively in the northeastern part, covering the “7 Sister States”, as well as Druk Yul – the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan – dubbed as the last Shangri-La. Their experiences and adventures were out of this world to say the least! He also took the opportunity to take his wife to Anandwan, Somnath and Hemalkasa – all are social projects under Baba Amte’s Maharogi Sewa Samiti umbrella. They returned to Canada just before Christmas.

True to her name, Bhakti, meaning devotion, is devoted to the people she loves and cares about. She is exceptional in her field having won several awards and trips from her company, as well as awards in academics. In her spare time, she creates handicrafts and hand-made greeting cards, which are a work of art.

Bhakti’s hard-working and down-to-earth nature has won her many friends, well-wishers and admirers where ever she goes. A born artist, she has drawn applause for her singing and poetry. She is currently continuing her education in Indian Classical singing.

Bhakti is now the backbone and the voice-of-reason in Neeraj’s life. Together, all they wish for is to live happily ever after.

Well, that is it for now. Only this is the beginning!

Moments are transitory … memories are forever.

Have a look at the He Says, She Says article, about what Neeraj says about Bhakti and what she says about him.

60 Comments to: “About Us”

It’s funny, we went backpacking around the same time. We also left in November 2008 and came back a few months later (different area of the world though, we were in Latin America). And I’m just coming back from South-East Asia (Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand).

Neeraj – as much as I know you, your actions speak more than words. Your pictures depicting different moods of a common man, visiting Anandwan and many others show that you care. This is really a rare quality in today’s self centred world.

Now Bhakti is with you and it is nice to see that both of you work in harmony. Cherish it and be staunch representatives of all ‘bhatake and vimukt’ in the world.

Hi Dear,
This is Suchit basically Mechanical engg but also a artist.
its a nice site actully I also written a book in marathi as tital Bharari.
my wife Sneha chemical engg & also a nature lover & writter.
can you please tell kme on what adress i should post our articals to you,
for your expert guidance & our improvement.

Went through most of your blog. It was an awesome experience. What gives me pleasure is the life loving attitude that i experience at every word and sentence.
Can we explore making an ebook out of the marathi part in this? We are in the field of Marathi ebook publishing and you can know more about us from http://www.esahity.com

Hi Neeraj,
I read your reports on Anandwan and Hemalkasa and i must admit they are few of the best articles i have ever read. Its a pleasure to know a person like you. Please share your personal contact details on my email id.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read those articles. I spent a lot of time and effort writing those and I’m happy to know you liked it. The idea is to spread the word on Anandwan and Hemalkasa.

Thanks for the kind words, Pranita 🙂
Will surely let you know about new posts. If you prefer, you can choose to subscribe to the RSS post and you’ll receive the post by e-mail whenever we have a new post.

Hi Bhakti and Neeraj,
Today for the first time I browsed through your blog. It is really very interesting and informative. Yet to read lot of things. We have travelled around the world but never have written like this. I wish you both best in your future adventures..keep it up..you are truly ” awesome twosome”…Nandini

It’s difficult to write while on the road, and then when we get back home it’s difficult to find time to write with all the activities in our daily routine. I guess I’ll have to save some of my writings for when I retire!! hah

Hi Neeraj & Bhakti,
Guys you both are doing great work. superb fan of yours.
i too enjoying travelling..like your website..its very informative..
keep it up.
its my pleasure to know the people like you.

Hello Neeraj and Bhakti ,
Like you both ,I have a tract record of travelling ,mostly within India .Have been to Anandwan and Somnath back in 1982 ,stayed for a week , met Baba Amte ,Tai and their family.Became so inspired that I offered myself to join MSS full time ( I am medical doctor ) but Baba advised me to go back and fulfill my family obligations first.I was 35 yrs then.
I want to travel even today but the direction of my journey has taken a U turn , changing by 180 degrees ,which is to say that instead of travelling outward , now I want to travel within.
I know by now that if I can reach this destination within ,which is forever waiting at the core of one’s being ,my wander lust will be quenched for ever.
Meanwhile I wish you both happy travelling ahead and good luck in whatever else you are doing

Like applause is to a singer, your feedback is to a writer. Please take a moment to leave us a comment below!

About Us

Welcome to our site! We are an Indo-Canadian husband and wife duo who love to travel to new and wonderful places. Bharari is a showcase for what we see, what we experience and what we believe. Follow us on Bharari as we Take Flight... it’s a wonderful world out there. Read more...